POIS is a rare syndrome that many people aren’t even aware exists. POIS stands for Post Orgasmic Illness Syndrome. The symptoms of POIS occur anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours after ejaculation. These symptoms typically last between 3-7 days. Symptoms are often flu-like in nature. They can include, but are not limited to, fever, headache, muscle ache, fatigue, and sinus congestion. These symptoms can be mild, but are sometimes severe enough that the person is unable to work or function normally for a few days. Some men notice these symptoms the first time they ejaculate. It is also common to develop POIS later in life, although we are not sure what triggers it. Although the cause of POIS is unknown, researchers believe it may act similarly to auto-immune diseases. The prevalence of this syndrome is unknown, although experts believe that cases are under-reported.
Although this condition is rare, we have had patients with the disorder who we have treated. Our first priority with treatment is to identify each symptom and find ways to mitigate them. To treat the disorder itself, there has only been one treatment studied. This is a hypo sensitization protocol, where the patient’s semen is injected in very small quantities under the skin every two weeks, identical to the manner in which allergy shots are performed. In our experience and in the few studies on this treatment, there seems to be promise that it can be successful in mitigating the severity of symptoms.
